Cougar habits-experience with cougars?

[MAX-24-Dean]

We have cougars around here. OP was probably very lucky that he was not attacked. MANY years ago I lost six barn cats in one week. Not eaten - just ripped to shreds. Hunters have bagged some really large cats just five miles west of me.

Been here forty plus years. Never worried about cougars/mountain lions. However - I don't go out and wander around at night either.

I used to go out to the barns at night, 600'. Heavily forested with pines, oaks and fir trees, plus some underbrush. Not doing that anymore in the near future.

 

[/pine]

They hang out in bars near college campuses...

...Oh sorry wrong species of cougar...my bad...!

 

[cqaigy2]

Once during deer season up in the Cascades, i was walking just off the ridge line on a game trail. I thought i heard something a ways behind me, so i stopped walking and whatever it was stopped too. I got a bit more quiet walking and i heard it start back up. Stopped, it stopped. I changed direction up toward the ridge line and cross over and just a bit below, walking back the way i came. When i thought i'd come close to the distance where i thought i'd heard the noise, i crossed back over down to where i'd been walking and in the same direction. I could see where a deer had stepped on my tracks walking the same direction, along with a largish cat. Seems like everybody in the woods was taking turns following me around.

 

[Jstpssng]

The police office actually told me the community built in 1940's inside the city limits is historic bear habitat and people are the intruders...

To be honest, I get tired of this rationalisation- er, logic. Many times the animals which it is used for is doing better because we moved in; whether by removing other predators, or more likely; simply by enhancing habitat for that particular species.

 

[ponytug]

Once during deer season up in the Cascades, i was walking just off the ridge line on a game trail. I thought i heard something a ways behind me, so i stopped walking and whatever it was stopped too. I got a bit more quiet walking and i heard it start back up. Stopped, it stopped. I changed direction up toward the ridge line and cross over and just a bit below, walking back the way i came. When i thought i'd come close to the distance where i thought i'd heard the noise, i crossed back over down to where i'd been walking and in the same direction. I could see where a deer had stepped on my tracks walking the same direction, along with a largish cat. Seems like everybody in the woods was taking turns following me around.

Funny story.

Having watched predators hunt, I no longer worry about twigs snapping or brush sounds. I know no animal predator would ever make that much noise. I get worried when it gets quiet. "It's quiet, it's too quiet..."

All the best,

Peter

 

[deserteagle71]

To be honest, I get tired of this rationalisation- er, logic. Many times the animals which it is used for is doing better because we moved in; whether by removing other predators, or more likely; simply by enhancing habitat for that particular species.

^This!

Anyone who reads the journals of the pioneers who first crossed the western states can tell you that those first explorers darn near starved to death many times - had to eat their own horses/mules - because there was simply no wildlife around to kill. The notion that the country was teeming with wildlife before the white man moved it is simply wrong...except in the case of buffalo. Even today, around here if you want to see abundant wildlife go check out any farmer's or rancher's fields.

In just one field alone...count the mule deer.

 

[cqaigy2]

Was reading Nat Geo article and one study estimated there were more deer in US than ever before. Seems deer like urban areas, pretty much protected and lots of food.

 

[Dftodd]

Was reading Nat Geo article and one study estimated there were more deer in US than ever before. Seems deer like urban areas, pretty much protected and lots of food.

We vacationed a couple years ago in Ruidoso NM in the fall.

There were mule deer and elk hanging out all over the town.

Thought a person was nuts when they said if you wanted to see elk, go to the school soccer fields at dawn.

Well we got up and ran over there at dawn. Saw probably 150 plus elk hanging out in the soccer fields, school parking lot and golf course next door

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Our last feral cat showed up today, very skidish, looking everywhere and sniffing the porch for the cougar smell.

A friend came with his hounds to check for dead game that the cougar might have covered up. Didn't find anything on our property. We haven't seen any vultures here either, so no indication as to why it acting like it was protecting its kill.

The cougar was dispatched 80 feet from the house by local law enforcement. Just laying behind some cedar trees.
It hung around to long for comfort, after it backed me into the house.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

On a lighter note, my wife said we need a rifle just like the one the officer used. Stating "it was so quiet".

Nice S&W AR with a red dot and suppressor, that is sold to law enforecment only.
Told her I could get something very similiar though, until I told her the price. So got my hopes dashed.